Comparison of Hip and Lumbopelvic Performance Between Chronic Low Back Pain Patients Suited for the Functional Optimization Approach and Healthy Controls.

STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. OBJECTIVE: We explored the differences between chronic low back pain (CLBP) patients suited for the functional optimization approach and healthy controls in isometric hip-strength and lumbar-endurance tests and determined classificatory cutoff values for strength and endurance tests and ratios. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: To optimize the treatment effect for CLBP, some approaches have classified patients into homogeneous subgroups matched to specific treatments. We evaluated CLBP patients suited for the functional optimization approach, who seek care because they experience symptoms during activities with high physical demands, although they are relatively asymptomatic. METHODS: Three hundred fifty subjects (healthy controls, 170; CLBP patients, 180) were stratified by age (18-40 and 41-65 yrs), sex, and physical activity level. The CLBP patients had an Oswestry Disability Index score < 20% and a Numeric Pain Rating Scale score < 3. The subjects underwent hip abductor, extensor, and flexor isometric strength tests; a deep abdominal function test; and lateral/frontal bridge and lumbar flexor/extensor endurance tests. RESULTS: Relative to the healthy controls, the CLBP patients showed significantly (P > 0.05) higher strength scores in the hip flexor and deep abdominal function tests but lower endurance in the lateral and frontal bridge and lumbar flexor and extensor tests. The cutoff values of the lumbar flexor test and the lumbar flexor/extensor, lateral bridge/lumbar flexor, frontal bridge/lumbar flexor, and hip extensor/flexor test ratios showed acceptable accuracy (AUC = 0.84, 0.82, 0.79, 0.75, and 0.73, respectively). CONCLUSION: In lumbopelvic and hip-performance tests, CLBP patients suited for the functional optimization approach showed differences from healthy controls. These patients could be discriminated from healthy controls on the basis of accurate cutoff values for strength and endurance tests and ratios, which should be considered in treatment decision-making when patients need to return to activities with higher physical demands. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2.

Prevalence and reliability of treatment-based classification for subgrouping patients with low back pain.

OBJECTIVES: To observe the distribution of patients who presented with low back pain (LBP) and to determine the between therapists' interrater reliability of assessments in a private outpatient setting using treatment-based classification (TBC) subgroups. METHODS: An observational and methodological study was conducted. Four hundred and twenty-nine patients (231 male; 198 female) presenting LBP symptoms and referred to conservative treatment were assessed by 13 physical therapists who conducted a 60-min examination process utilizing TBC subgroups. Interrater reliability analyses from six raters were assessed using Fleiss' kappa and previously recorded data (n = 30). RESULTS: In this study, 65.74% of patients were classified in only one subgroup, the most prevalent being stabilization (21.91%), followed by extension (15.38%), traction (11.89%), flexion (10.96%), manipulation (5.13%), and lateral shift (0.47%). Approximately 20.98% of patients were classified in two subgroups, where the most frequent overlaps were flexion + stabilization (7.46%), extension + stabilization (6.06%), flexion + traction (4.20%), extension + manipulation (1.86%), and 13.29% of patients were not classified in any TBC subgroup. Analysis of interrater reliability showed a kappa value of 0.62 and an overall agreement of 66% between raters. DISCUSSION: LBP is a heterogeneous clinical condition and several classification methods are proposed in the attempt to observe better outcomes for patients. Eighty-five percent of patients assessed were able to be classified when using the TBC assessment and reliability analysis showed a substantial agreement between raters. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2c.

Reference values and reliability for lumbopelvic strength and endurance in asymptomatic subjects.

BACKGROUND: Assessing the lumbopelvic region is useful for detecting many musculoskeletal dysfunctions and also performance deficits. Several clinical tests are used to assess this region, however, reference values and results related to method, reliability and error measurements of these tests have not been reported. OBJECTIVES: To establish reference values and determine reliability, standard error of measurement (SEM), typical error of measurement (TEM) and minimum detectable change (MDC) of a set of clinical tests used for assessing the lumbopelvic region in subjects divided by gender, age group and physical activity levels. METHODS: An observational study was conducted. For reference values, 152 subjects performed eight clinical tests (isometric strength of hip muscles; deep abdominal function and endurance tests) used to assess the lumbopelvic region. Reliability analyses were assessed using the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC2,1) and error measurements were calculated by using the SEM, TEM and the MDC. RESULTS: Reference values were established for each group and results showed significant (p<0.05) differences concerning gender, age group and physical activity levels in clinical tests. All tests presented good reliability indices with an ICC higher than 0.80 for reliability; MDC values were greater than mean of SEM in all tests, confirming its usage for clinical practice assessments. CONCLUSION: Reference values are necessary in the evaluation of subjects and these results can contribute for clinical practice, providing clinical training targets. Also, evaluation of reliability and error measurements in this set of tests allows its use in clinical practice.

Construct and discriminant validity of STarT Back Screening Tool - Brazilian version.

BACKGROUND: The STarT Back Screening Tool (SBST) was developed to stratify low back pain patients according to their risk of future physical disability so that prognostic subgroups can receive matched treatments in primary care. OBJECTIVE: To measure the construct and discriminative validity of the SBST-Brazil questionnaire. METHOD: A hundred and fifty one patients were recruited to test the construct and discriminative validity comparing the SBST-Brazil to the Brazilian Version of the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) and Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire-Work (FABQ-W) and Physical Activity (FABQ-PA) subscales at baseline. Spearman's rank-order correlation and area under the curve (AUC) derived from receiver operating curves (ROC) for total scores and psychosocial subscale score of the SBST-Brazil were used for construct and discriminant validity analysis, respectively. RESULTS: The SBST-Brazil total and psychosocial subscale scores had good and moderate correlation with ODI (r=0.61; r=0.56, respectively) and good with RMDQ (r=0.70; r=0.64, respectively). Both scores of the SBST-Brazil total and psychosocial subscale correlated weakly and moderately with the FABQ-PA (r=0.28; r=0.34, respectively) and weakly with the FABQ-W (r=0.18; r=0.20, respectively). The discriminant validity with AUCs for the total and psychosocial subscale scores against reference standard ranged from 0.66 for kinesiophobia to 0.88 for disability. CONCLUSION: The SBST-Brazil showed a moderate to good correlation with the disability tools, but a weak correlation with fear-avoidance beliefs. The results of discriminant validity suggest that SBST-Brazil is able to discriminate low back pain patients with disability and fear-avoidance beliefs.

Pre-operative Functional Parameters of Patients Undergoing Total Knee Arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has become the gold standard to manage pain and disability associated with knee osteoarthritis (KOA). There are no clear criteria on to determine when or who should undergo TKA. The creation of a pre-operative profile that includes physical functional data may aid in the clinical decision-making for the timing of TKA. Aim 1: to observe the pre-operative functional profile of subjects with advanced KOA and to depict it according to gender. Aim 2: to assess the association between pain, self-reported and performance-based physical function outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: retrospective study. Physical functional data from 122 persons (89 women and 33 men) with end-stage KOA were obtained through a database. Data consisted of height, weight, 6-minute walk test (6MWT) and the deficit when compared with normative values, self-visual analogue scale (VAS) after 6MWT and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Index (WOMAC). Descriptive statistics were used to report the observed data; student t-test and Mann-Whitney were used to compare gender groups. Spearman correlation was used to asses the association with the 6MWT, WOMAC and VAS. RESULTS: The mean (standard deviation) values of our sample for the WOMAC, 6MWT deficit and VAS were calculated. There was a significant difference between gender in the WOMAC score and pain intensity (VAS) after the 6MWT (p = 0.002; p = 0.01). Moderate to weak correlations between WOMAC score, VAS and 6MWT were found. Correlation values ranged from r = 0.23 to 0.48. CONCLUSION: The current study suggests a functional profile for subjects who are scheduled to undergo TKA. Our results show that the correlations of self-report and performance-based measures of function and reported pain are poor. This enhances the idea of using all of these types of measures to establish the functional profile a sample of subjects with advanced KOA. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The Brazilian version of STarT Back Screening Tool - translation, cross-cultural adaptation and reliability.

BACKGROUND: Psychosocial factors are not routinely identified in physical therapy assessments, although they can influence the prognosis of patients with low back pain. The "STarT Back Screening Tool" (SBST) questionnaire aids in screening such patients for poor prognosis in the primary care setting and classifies them as high, medium, or low risk based on physical and psychosocial factors. OBJECTIVES: This study sought to translate and cross-culturally adapt the SBST to the Brazilian Portuguese language and test the reliability of the Brazilian version. METHOD: The first stage of the study consisted of the translation, synthesis, and back-translation of the original version of the STSB, including revision by the Translation Group, pretest of the translated version, and assessment by an expert panel. The pre-final Brazilian version was applied to 2 samples comprising 52 patients with low back pain; these patients were of both genders and older than 18 years of age. To assess the instrument's reliability, an additional sample comprising 50 patients was subjected to 2 interviews, and the results were assessed using the quadratic weighted kappa value. The instrument's internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's alpha (n=105), and the standard error of measurement was also calculated (n=50). RESULTS: Translation and back-translation attained consensus, and only item 6 required changes; the reformulated version was applied to an additional sample comprising 52 individuals who did not report any doubts related to this item. The reliability of the SBST-Brazil was 0.79 (95% confidence interval: 0.63-0.95), the internal consistency was 0.74 for the total score and 0.72 for the psychosocial subscale, and the standard error of measurement was 1.9%. CONCLUSION: The translated and cross-culturally adapted SBST-Brazil proved to be reliable for screening patients according to their risk of poor prognosis and the presence of psychosocial factors.

The Brazilian version of STarT Back Screening Tool - translation, cross-cultural adaptation and reliability / Versão brasileira do STarT Back Screening Tool - tradução, adaptação transcultural e confiabilidade

Background: Psychosocial factors are not routinely identified in physical therapy assessments, although they can influence the prognosis of patients with low back pain. The "STarT Back Screening Tool" (SBST) questionnaire aids in screening such patients for poor prognosis in the primary care setting and classifies them as high, medium, or low risk based on physical and psychosocial factors. Objectives: This study sought to translate and cross-culturally adapt the SBST to the Brazilian Portuguese language and test the reliability of the Brazilian version. Method: The first stage of the study consisted of the translation, synthesis, and back-translation of the original version of the STSB, including revision by the Translation Group, pretest of the translated version, and assessment by an expert panel. The pre-final Brazilian version was applied to 2 samples comprising 52 patients with low back pain; these patients were of both genders and older than 18 years of age. To assess the instrument's reliability, an additional sample comprising 50 patients was subjected to 2 interviews, and the results were assessed using the quadratic weighted kappa value. The instrument's internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's alpha (n=105), and the standard error of measurement was also calculated (n=50). Results: Translation and back-translation attained consensus, and only item 6 required changes; the reformulated version was applied to an additional sample comprising 52 individuals who did not report any doubts related to this item. The reliability of the SBST-Brazil was 0.79 (95% confidence interval: 0.63-0.95), the internal consistency was 0.74 for the total score and 0.72 for the psychosocial subscale, and the standard error of measurement was 1.9%. Conclusion: The translated and cross-culturally adapted SBST-Brazil proved to be reliable for screening patients according to their risk of poor prognosis and the presence of ...

Contextualização: Fatores psicossociais não são rotineiramente identificados na avaliação fisioterapêutica e podem influenciar o prognóstico de pacientes com dor lombar. O questionário "STarT Back Screening Tool" (SBST) auxilia na triagem desses pacientes em relação ao risco de mau prognóstico no tratamento primário, considerando fatores físicos e psicossociais, classificando-os em de baixo, médio e alto risco. Objetivos: Traduzir e adaptar transculturalmente o SBST para Língua Portuguesa do Brasil e testar a sua confiabilidade. Método: A primeira etapa consistiu na tradução, síntese, retro-tradução, revisão pelo grupo de tradução, pré-teste e avaliação dos documentos pelo Comitê. A versão pré-final foi aplicada em duas amostras de 52 pacientes cada, com dor lombar, de ambos os sexos e idade acima de 18 anos. Para verificação da confiabilidade intra-avaliador, foram realizadas duas entrevistas em outra amostra de 50 pacientes, e os resultados, analisados pelo Kappa ponderado quadrático. Também foram calculados a consistência interna, por meio do Alfa de Cronbach (n=105), e o erro padrão de medida (n=50). Resultados: O consenso foi atingido na tradução e retrotradução, e apenas o item 6 foi reformulado e reaplicado em outros 52 pacientes, os quais não tiveram dúvida. A confiabilidade foi de 0,79 (95% IC 0,63-0,95), a consistência interna para pontuação total foi de 0,74 e, para a subescala psicossocial, de 0,72, e o erro de padrão da medida foi de 1,9%. Conclusão: O SBST-Brasil traduzido e adaptado culturalmente mostrou-se confiável para triar pacientes em relação ao risco de mau prognóstico de tratamento, levando em consideração fatores psicossociais. .

Variations in maternal care alter corticosterone and 17beta-estradiol levels, estrous cycle and folliculogenesis and stimulate the expression of estrogen receptors alpha and beta in the ovaries of UCh rats.

BACKGROUND: Variations in maternal care are associated with neonatal stress, hormonal disturbances and reproductive injuries during adulthood. However, the effects of these variations on sex hormones and steroid receptors during ovary development remain undetermined. This study aimed to investigate whether variations in maternal care are able to influence the hormonal profile, follicular dynamics and expression of AR, ER-alpha and ER-beta in the ovaries of UCh rat offspring. METHODS: Twenty-four adult UCh rats, aged 120 days, were randomly divided into two groups (UChA and UChB) and mated. Maternal care was assessed from birth (day 0) to the 10th postnatal day (PND). In adulthood, twenty adult female rats (UChA and UChB offspring; n = 10/group), aged 120 days, were euthanized by decapitation during the morning estrus. RESULTS: UChA females (providing high maternal care) more frequently displayed the behaviors of carrying pups, as well as licking/grooming and arched back nursing cares. Also, mothers providing high care had elevated corticosterone levels. Additionally, offspring receiving low maternal care showed the highest estrous cycle duration, increased corticosterone and 17beta-estradiol levels, overexpression of receptors ER-alpha and ER-beta, increased numbers of primordial, antral and mature follicles and accentuated granulosa cell proliferation. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that low maternal care alters corticosterone and 17beta-estradiol levels, disrupting the estrous cycle and folliculogenesis and differentially regulating the expression of ER-alpha and ER-beta in the ovaries of adult rats.

Pseudoaneurysm of the medial inferior genicular artery after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

We present a case of pseudoaneurysm formation of the medial inferior genicular artery after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. The patient presented with repeated knee hemarthrosis. He was diagnosed by means of magnetic resonance angiography and was treated by means of transluminal embolization. The patient's normal was normal after resolution of the vascular pathologic condition.

Mast cells and ethanol consumption: interactions in the prostate, epididymis and testis of UChB rats.

PROBLEM: Alcoholism has reached alarming proportions while fertility rates slowing in populations. The assessment of inflammatory effects with emphasis on the variation of the mast cells comparing ethanol chronic ingestion on reproductive organs deserves attention. METHOD OF STUDY: The mast cells were investigated with light microscopy using toluidine blue to locate and count total mast cells and immunohistochemistry to identify the connective tissue mast cells (CTMC). RESULTS: The increase in total mast cells in the prostate, total and degranulated mast cells in epididymis of UChB rats was accompanied by a greater proportion of mucosal mast cells (MMC) in these organs. In addition, a lower incidence of degranulated mast cells was observed in epididymis of control rats. CONCLUSIONS: Ethanol increases the number of total and degranulated mast cells in the prostate and epididymis, as well as associated with increasing MMC, and therefore, it could be leading to inflammation in these organs.

Differentiation of epithelial cells in the urinary tract.

Uroplakins, cytokeratins and the apical plasma membrane were studied in the epithelia of mouse urinary tract. In the simple epithelium covering the inner medulla of the renal pelvis, no uroplakins or cytokeratin 20 were detected and cells had microvilli on their apical surface. The epithelium covering the inner band of the outer medulla became pseudostratified, with the upper layer consisting of large cells with stalks connecting them to the basal lamina. Uroplakins and cytokeratin 20 were not expressed in these cells. However, some superficial cells appeared without connections to the basal lamina; these cells expressed uroplakins Ia, Ib, II and III and cytokeratin 20, they contained sparse small uroplakin-positive cytoplasmic vesicles and their apical surface showed both microvilli and ridges. Cytokeratin 20 was seen as dots in the cytoplasm. This epithelium therefore showed partial urothelial differentiation. The epithelium covering the outer band of the outer medulla gradually changed from a two-layered to a three-layered urothelium with typical umbrella cells that contained all four uroplakins. Cytokeratin 20 was organized into a complex network. The epithelium possessed an asymmetric unit membrane at the apical cell surface and fusiform vesicles. Umbrella cells were also observed in the ureter and urinary bladder. In males and females, the urothelium ended in the bladder neck and was continued by a non-keratinized stratified epithelium in the urethra in which no urothelial cell differentiation markers were detected. We thus show here the expression, distribution and organization of specific proteins associated with the various cell types in the urinary tract epithelium.